A collective of over 50 women in France has launched a campaign to abolish the country’s statute of limitations for rape and sexual assault. These survivors argue that current laws, which restrict criminal proceedings to 20 years for adults and 30 years for crimes committed against minors, prevent them from accessing justice.
This initiative represents a significant collective effort, bringing together individuals who allege abuse by high-profile figures such as Jeffrey Epstein, Jean-Luc Brunel, and Mohammed Al Fayed. Members of the group, known as Survivors’ Voices, contend that these legal time limits invalidate their suffering based solely on the date an incident occurred. Participant Thysia Husiman, who alleges she was assaulted by the late Jean-Luc Brunel, emphasized that trauma does not expire.
Former BBC producer Lisa Brinkworth is also seeking justice, taking her case to the European Court of Human Rights. Brinkworth alleges she was assaulted while working on an undercover investigation into the fashion industry involving Elite Model Management head Gérald Marie. Her legal efforts in France were blocked because her case exceeded the 20-year limit. She asserts that she was discouraged from reporting the incident by BBC staff at the time and claims the network has withheld key evidence.
The BBC stated that it takes these concerns seriously and has provided the materials requested by French authorities and Ms. Brinkworth. Meanwhile, a representative for Gérald Marie noted that previous investigations into these allegations were concluded without further action.
